The Book of Amos - Home - New Christian Bible Study

[Pages:371]The Book of Amos

from the book

Minor Prophets: Major Messages by Rev. George McCurdy

Contents

Preface...................................................................................................................................................... 6 How To Use This Study Guide......................................................................................................... 6 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 8

Major and Minor Prophets.......................................................................................................... 8 Who Was This Man Called Amos?............................................................................................ 9 What Conditions in the Northern Tribes Made Amos' Prophecy Necessary?......10 Chapter One......................................................................................................................................... 12 Amos 1:1-2...................................................................................................................................... 12 Amos 1:3-5...................................................................................................................................... 15 Amos 1:6-8...................................................................................................................................... 20 Amos 1:9-10................................................................................................................................... 24 Amos 1:11-12................................................................................................................................. 26 Amos 1:13-15................................................................................................................................. 29 Chapter Two........................................................................................................................................ 35 Amos 2:1-3...................................................................................................................................... 35 Amos 2:4-5...................................................................................................................................... 39 Amos 2:6-8...................................................................................................................................... 42 Amos 2:9-11................................................................................................................................... 47 Amos 2:12-16................................................................................................................................. 52 Chapter Three..................................................................................................................................... 58 Amos 3:1-2...................................................................................................................................... 58

2

Amos 3:7-8...................................................................................................................................... 69 Amos 3:9-10................................................................................................................................... 72 Amos 3:11........................................................................................................................................ 75 Amos 3:12........................................................................................................................................ 78 Amos 3:13-15................................................................................................................................. 80 Chapter Four....................................................................................................................................... 85 Amos 4:1-3...................................................................................................................................... 85 Amos 4:4-6...................................................................................................................................... 89 Amos 4:7-8...................................................................................................................................... 94 Amos 4:9.......................................................................................................................................... 97 Amos 4:10-11.............................................................................................................................. 100 Amos 4:12-13.............................................................................................................................. 104 Chapter Five...................................................................................................................................... 108 Amos 5:1-3................................................................................................................................... 108 Amos 5:4-9................................................................................................................................... 112 Amos 5:10-13.............................................................................................................................. 118 Amos 5:14-15.............................................................................................................................. 123 Amos 5:16-20.............................................................................................................................. 126 Amos 5:21-22.............................................................................................................................. 130 Amos 5:23-25.............................................................................................................................. 133 Amos 5:26-27.............................................................................................................................. 137 Chapter Six........................................................................................................................................ 139 Amos 6:1-2................................................................................................................................... 139

3

Amos 6:3-6................................................................................................................................... 142 Amos 6:7-9................................................................................................................................... 147 Amos 6:10-12.............................................................................................................................. 149 Amos 6:13-14.............................................................................................................................. 154 Chapter Seven.................................................................................................................................. 157 Amos 7:1....................................................................................................................................... 157 Amos 7:2-6................................................................................................................................... 159 Amos 7:7-9................................................................................................................................... 163 Amos 7:10-13.............................................................................................................................. 166 Amos 7:14-16.............................................................................................................................. 169 Amos 7: 17.................................................................................................................................... 171 Chapter Eight................................................................................................................................... 174 Amos 8:1....................................................................................................................................... 174 Amos 8:4-6................................................................................................................................... 178 Amos 8:7-10................................................................................................................................. 182 Amos 8: 11-14............................................................................................................................. 188 Chapter Nine..................................................................................................................................... 193 Amos 9:1-5................................................................................................................................... 193 Amos 9:6....................................................................................................................................... 198 Amos 9:7....................................................................................................................................... 202 Amos 9:8-10................................................................................................................................. 205 Amos 9:11-12.............................................................................................................................. 209 Amos 9:13-15.............................................................................................................................. 213

4

Epilogue: A Summary of the Nine Chapters of Amos.......................................................219 Chapter One................................................................................................................................. 219 Chapter Two................................................................................................................................ 219 Chapter Three............................................................................................................................. 219 Chapter Four................................................................................................................................ 219 Chapter Five................................................................................................................................. 220 Chapter Six................................................................................................................................... 220 Chapter Seven............................................................................................................................. 220 Chapter Eight............................................................................................................................... 220 Chapter Nine................................................................................................................................ 220

5

Preface

The book of Amos is one of the books of the Word. Not much has been written about it in the New Church. Since I started working on this study of Amos, I have searched our library holdings with the hope I would turn up a hidden or forgotten study by some New Church scholar. Although there are sermons using a verse or part of a chapter of Amos as a text, I have found no detailed study of Amos or other books of the Minor Prophets. Why not? Is there a perception that the Writings lack a verseby-verse explanation of these Prophets?

So far, my research has uncovered several thorough New Church books on the Major Prophets, such as Isaiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel. The absence of similar books on the Minor Prophets motivated me to undertake a study guide approach to filling this void. I hope this first study guide will prove helpful to others and that additional study guides will follow this one. Ultimately, I want the Minor Prophets to be accessible and hope to contribute to their study and use in the church. Most of all, I'd like this effort to be a challenge so that others will be encouraged to build on and improve this pilot project.

How To Use This Study Guide

1. A slow, unhurried reading of Amos is essential. Read each chapter before you look at the related section of the Study guide. Read the chapter again while you are using the study guide, and read it a third time when you are finished. This process will give you a powerful sense of the series of events and meanings in each chapter. It is important to feel comfortable with all the names, places, and announcements in Amos' prophecy. When possible, some historical information will be included in the study guide to increase reading comprehension and enhance application. The book of Amos is not an easy work to read and understand. Unlike some of the prophets--Jonah or Hosea--Amos doesn't tell a story that is easy to remember. He brings prophecies against neighbors of Israel, mentioning names and places one can only recognize with the help of maps and reference books. One has to wade through many historical facts to catch a glimpse of the message in Amos, so it is important to balance history with solid research of the spiritual sense. Researching can require a table full of books and hours of comparing and contrasting meanings that can be drawn from the internal sense. This study guide intends to help the researcher by including a full set of quotes so that he or she may spend less time juggling books and more time reflecting on the issues the internal sense presents. My hope is that the reader will concentrate on the process of applying doctrine to life.

2. As you read Amos, there are several resources you will want to use with this study guide. The first is a book of the Writings called Summaries of the Internal

6

Sense of the Prophets and Psalms.1 This work includes a verse-by-verse overview of each of the nine chapters of Amos. The overview gives a general statement about the internal sense. Our research will move us toward the particulars of the internal sense. 3. Another important reference tool is Searle's General Index to Swedenborg's Scripture Quotations. This reference shows where in the Writings a verse(s) of the Word is either explained specifically or used to illustrate a doctrinal point that we can add to our study. There is also another use of this work. As we study, each researcher will be led by the Lord's Providence in myriad of ways and according to specific needs or states. Knowing how to use this book will help us look up related passages in the Word that will add to our knowledge of the threefold Word. 4. You will soon discover that not every verse, word, name, etc. is directly quoted and explained in the Writings. However, there are often references to the same name, place, or thing in the explanation of a different verse of the Word. The hope is that reflection on these other references and their associated doctrine will help us see possible applications to our study of Amos. We will need to use "derived doctrine." Please don't run away from this maligned term. If we use it properly, admitting openly that it is derived, we bring no harm to the internal sense. Think about it for a minute. The Writings give us a verse-by-verse explanation of Genesis, Exodus, and Revelation. Do we stay away from the other books of the Word because the Lord didn't reveal them in the Writings in the same way He did Genesis, Exodus, and Revelation? I think not. We must look for, find, and wisely use "derived doctrine" with a humble acknowledgment that we have tried to apply doctrine with a degree of human prudence. 5. Keep a notebook handy during your study times. Write out insights, questions, and any summaries you find helpful in organizing your thoughts about each chapter. The goal of this study guide is not to give a detailed summary of the internal sense but to start the researcher's quest for deeper insights. 6. There is a wonderful explanation of Amos, chapter 8, in the Dole Bible Study Notes, Volume 4. There you will see an example of historical and spiritual information corroborating one another. It is well worth your time to read and reflect on this explanation. You might also enjoy looking at the Sower Notes, Volume III, Chapter 58. 7. At the end of each chapter in the study guide, you will find a study review. The review includes a summary of each section to help you reinforce and build on your understanding of several of the key points. 8. Begin each study unit with a devotional prayer asking the Lord to guide and direct your thoughts. Certainly beginning in this sphere has the power to inspire and open our minds with a higher spiritual priority that will keep us in the company of the Lord's angels. As the Writings teach, we must seek to love truth for truth's sake. Such an approach will free each reader from preconceived ideas that might limit his or her ability to "see" the intent and message of the Lord's Word.

1

7

Introduction

Before we begin our study, it will be helpful to learn some background information about the books of the prophets and their approximate dates.

MAJOR AND MINOR PROPHETS

Let's begin with a brief description of what the terms "Major Prophets" and "Minor Prophets" mean. In the Old Testament, there are 16 books referred to as the books of the Prophets. Biblical scholars have divided the 16 books into two categories. Augustine was the first person to use the terms "Major" and "Minor" to indicate the size of the books, not their relative importance. The Minor Prophets contain fewer chapters than those of the Major Prophets.

Scholars do not agree on the timeline of the prophets. I found at least ten different timelines. None of them agree completely on dates. If I were to simplify the research information I would say there are essentially two timelines that seem to have the acceptance among the scholars. So I offer both for your consideration.

The Minor Prophets

Amos

750 BC *

Obadiah

840-830 BC

Hosea

745-734 BC *

Joel

830-750 BC

Micah

701 BC

Jonah

780-740 BC

Zephaniah

628-626 BC

Hosea

765-725 BC

Nahum

614-612 BC

Amos

760 BC

Habakkuk

605-600 BC

Micah

740-700 BC

Haggai

520 BC

Nahum

640-620 BC

Zechariah

520-519 BC

Zephaniah 640-609 BC

Malachi

460 BC

Habakkuk 680-605 BC

Obadiah

400-350 BC

Haggai

520 BC

Joel

350 BC

Zechariah 520-480 BC

Jonah

300 BC

Malachi

420-400 BC

8

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download